Freshmen Lead La Quinta to North County Title

Freshman Ian Kennedy struck out five in five innings and freshman Ian Stewart made a game-saving catch in the top of the seventh to help La Quinta defeat Downey Warren, 3-2, in the championship game of the North Orange County Tournament Friday at Amerige Park.

The Aztecs scored the winning run in the fourth when Warren pitcher Gabriel Bueno balked home a run with the score tied, 2-2.

Aztec reliever Mike McKernan pitched the last two innings to pick up his first save. La Quinta (5-0) won the tournament for the third consecutive year.

In other North Orange County tournament games:

Mission Viejo 11, Huntington Beach 0 (5 innings, mercy rule)--Freshman right fielder David Hudgins led off the game with a home run and John Hudgins pitched a two-hitter for Mission Viejo (4-1) in the third-place game.

Valencia 6, El Modena 2--Catcher Sal Mora had three hits, including two doubles, and two RBIs for Valencia (3-2) in the ninth-place game.

Paramount 10, Troy 8--Rauly Gutierrez had a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth and also stole two bases for Troy (1-4) in a consolation game.

In the third round of the Costa Mesa tournament:

Brentwood 9, Orange Lutheran 6 (8 innings)--Brentwood (3-1) scored three runs in the eighth with one out to edge Orange Lutheran in extra innings.

Sophomore left fielder Galen Davis hit a three-run home run with two outs in the fifth to help force extra innings for the Lancers (0-3).

In the Foothill tournament:

Capistrano Valley 4, Woodbridge 3--Brad Davis led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run and that proved to be the decisive run for Capistrano Valley (2-1), which advanced to the final to play Esperanza tonight at 7 at Windrow Park.

Calvary Chapel 5, Tustin 2--Junior left fielder Blake West had four hits and three RBIs for the visiting Eagles (2-2) in a consolation game.

In the Loara tournament semifinal:

Villa Park 8, Long Beach Wilson 2--Scott Foley hit a bases-loaded triple and Sean Pritchett had a two-run second-inning double for the visiting Spartans (4-0), who advanced to the final to play Lakewood at Glover Stadium at 7 tonight.

Fountain Valley 13, Kennedy 4--John Clark had three hits, including a triple, and scored four runs for Fountain Valley (3-1) in a consolation game.

Marina 7, Laguna Hills 3--Brett Becker had a double, home run and four RBIs and winning pitcher Shaun Bartholomew struck out 11 and walked none in a complete-game victory for Marina (2-2).

Western 2, Norwalk 1 (8 innings)--Junior Kyle Stanley scored on a wild pitch with no outs in the eighth for Western (1-3) in a consolation game.

In nonleague games:

Calabasas Viewpoint 6, St. Margaret’s 5--Senior pitcher T.C. Geach hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to give the Tartans (2-1) a 5-3 lead before Viewpoint (1-2) scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to win.

Capistrano Valley Christian 7, Redlands Arrowhead Christian 1--Anthony Cosenza had two hits, including a grand slam in the top of the fifth, and five RBIs for visiting Capistrano Valley Christian (1-0).

Brethren Christian 17, Liberty Christian 8--Winning pitcher Dwayne Harrington had four hits, including three doubles, and struck out 14 in five innings of relief for host Brethren Christian (1-0).